On Saturday, I posted my NL-Only hitting sleepers for 2012, and today I publish my AL-Only hitting sleepers. One of them is a guy I drafted in the FakeTeams Dynasty League, and another is a guy I traded for in my AL-Only keeper league, so let's take a look.
Eduardo Nunez, NYY
I have written several times this offseason that I think Nunez could be a 30+ base stealer if given 400+ at bats, and he just might get that this season. Now that the Yankees have traded their DH Jesus Montero, it could be a sign that they want to move Alex Rodriguez to the DH spot more often this season, and this would open up third base for Nunez.
Eric Thames, TOR
I traded for Thames in my AL-Only league this offseason. Actually, he was a throw-in with the #2 pick in the draft. Thames hit .262-.313-.456 with 12 HRs, 37 RBI, 58 runs scored and 2 stolen bases last year, in 362 at bats. Thames was the Blue Jays starting left fielder in the second half of 2011, where he hit .277 in July and .275 in August before slowing to a .211 BA in September. John Sickels wrote about him back in May 2011, saying he has good strike zone judgement, can hit for average and should hit lefties well enough to be an everyday player. I think Thames could be a .270-20-75 hitter in 2012.
More AL-Only sleepers after the jump:
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Nolan Reimold, BAL
Orioles new GM Dan Duquette was quoted yesterday saying he wants Reimold to be his everyday left fielder in 2012. In 267 at bats last season, he hit .247-.328-.453 with 13 HRs, 45 RBI, 40 runs and 7 stolen bases, but he hit .281 in September with 5 HRs, 17 RBI, 16 runs and a solid 14-9 K/BB rate. The hot September may have been a small sample size, but apparently the Orioles see more in him. He could be a 20 HR, 10 stolen base hitter you can get late on draft day.
Lorenzo Cain, KC
Cain hit 16 HRs in AAA last year, but that won't be a big part of his game. You are drafting him for his speed potential, and he should be given the green light should he hit this season. Kansas City was second in the AL in stolen bases last season and they should be running more this year with Cain taking over in center field. I look for him to steal 30+ bags this year.
Mike Carp, SEA
Carp surprised me with his performance last season with the Mariners, as he hit .276-.326-.466 with 12 HRs and 46 RBI in 290 at bats. He should get regular playing time again in 2012, and should be a decent source of power late in mixed league drafts. I can see him hitting between 20-25 HRs and driving in around 75-80 runs this season.
0 recs | 26 comments
Lorenzo Cain
I was actually going to write a sleeper post on him sometime in the next week or two. I think the Royals drop Gordon to the #2- #3 spot in the lineup and let Cain lead off to start the season.
Considering the Royals had the third highest stolen bases last season, there’s plenty of reason to believe Ned Yost will let Cain run rampant when he reaches 1B, which he should do often as he’s projected to hit .280 or better.
Bill James has him projected for 22 stolen bases, but that’s only in 146 games. I think 30 SB is more than a legitimate possibility for Cain at an extremely cheap cost.
Kevin Boger - January 23, 2012
Gordon has been confirmed by Yost to be the leadoff guy
and really there is no other viable alternative.
I could see Cain slotting in the #2 slot later on in the season, assuming he hits well. Cain just doesn’t have the OBP profile to be a leadoff hitter. Especially when there is a significantly better option in Gordon available.
xrayxtals - January 23, 2012
I hadn't heard that ...
Cain does need to improve his OBP I suppose. Even still, Cain batting #2 between Gordon and Hosmer sounds like one of the better lineup spots in the AL.
Kevin Boger - January 23, 2012
Lower third
Think Cain definately opens the year batting anywhere from 7th -9th. If he handles that then maybe a jump to the top.
tvators01 - January 24, 2012
NunezNa sleeper candidate?
Gee where did you get this idea from???
robg62 - January 23, 2012 via mobile
me
I drafted him in the FT Dynasty league draft…..
Ray Guilfoyle - January 23, 2012
Where exactly is Carp getting playing time?
dudedudedude - January 23, 2012
OF?
Ray Guilfoyle - January 24, 2012
Over who?
He can realistically only play LF and his defense is so bad that Wells is the better option in left field.
dudedudedude - January 24, 2012
Carp
has the better bat.
Ray Guilfoyle - January 24, 2012
That's fine, but real teams care about defense too
This is where defense matters. It doesn’t give you points in fantasy, but it gives you play time, and because of his poor defense, he won’t get that much playing time.
dudedudedude - January 24, 2012
who is the DH?
Ray Guilfoyle - January 24, 2012
Montero
dudedudedude - January 24, 2012
well if they are committed to
Montero playing C there will be DH ABs avail as well, as some time in LF and 1b, just like last year and if Carp is hitting HRs they will find a spot and LF maybe it and w/ Gutz and Ichiro out there they can prob afford a sub par defender in LF
tvators01 - January 24, 2012
That's awful logic
You would be placing a lower quality roster on the field if you put Carp in LF because you can “afford it”.
dudedudedude - January 24, 2012
The Mariners
have issues scoring runs……bats are needed, thus the deal for Montero.
Ray Guilfoyle - January 24, 2012
A run saved on defense is the same as a run created on offense
So Carp’s runs on offense are not more valuable than Wells’ on defense.
dudedudedude - January 24, 2012
SEA
already tried the good defense approach….it failed miserably
Ray Guilfoyle - January 24, 2012
Are you really trying to argue that one run on offense is not equal to one run on defense?
dudedudedude - January 24, 2012
did I
ever type that? They need to score runs….no?
Are you arguing that their lineup is ok as it is constructed now?
Ray Guilfoyle - January 24, 2012
No it's not perfect
But Wells getting play time is better than Carp.
dudedudedude - January 24, 2012
if Carp is hitting
they will find a spot, if Montero’s DH and Smoak is at 1b, guess what Carp will get PT in LF, for a team that struggles to score runs, a sub par defensive LF w/ a better bat is going to get PT, LF is not exaclt SS/CF, its notoriously a position where teams try and hide a bat on the field. not saying he’s getting 650 ABs or playing everyday but they will get his bat in the lineup, LF w/ GB or K pitchers on the mound
tvators01 - January 24, 2012
That's all wrong
It doesn’t matter where your value comes from. A sub par defensive left field is just as bad as a sub par bat. Wells is more valuable than Carp regardless of his bat because of his defensive ability.
dudedudedude - January 24, 2012
so
defense > offense?
Then Casey Kotchman > Miguel Cabrera?
Ray Guilfoyle - January 24, 2012
No
Miggy’s offense makes up for his defense more so than Kotchman’s defense makes up for his offense.
dudedudedude - January 24, 2012
you have to score more than the other team
to win…not save more runs
dbacksfaninGA - January 29, 2012
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